title: Variability of hormonal responses to a series of neuroendocrine challenges in depressed patients.
abstract: Abnormalities of hormonal responses to a number of neuroendocrine challenges have been reported in depressed patients. The authors used a series of four neuroendocrine challenges-thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation, insulin tolerance test (ITT), and overnight dexamethasone suppression test (DST)-and examined eight hormonal responses in 24 healthy subjects and 26 patients with primary unipolar affective disorder. Seven control subjects (29.2%) and 25 depressed patients (96.2%) had at least one abnormal response, and 15 depressed patients (57.7%) had two or mor abnormal responses. These findings suggest that depressed patients show variability in hormonal response across a number of neuroendocrine axes. No consistent patterns of abnormality of hormonal response were observed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D003907:Dexamethasone; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone